There are two plots approaching their end as “Archer Vice” sees its finale in two weeks. First and foremost is the former ISIS agents’ attempts to make money and start new lives. It began with a very ill-advised stint of selling cocaine, which netted everyone roughly zero dollars. To re-right the ship, they’re now trying to be arms dealers, something that doesn’t go well, as shown in this two-parter.
The other major plot is Lana’s pregnancy. While it has often been a source of other characters rolling their eyes and saying “Here we go…” it’s an important point to consider. The “season trailer” shown in “White Elephant” clearly has Lana going into labour.
We begin by joining everyone on a plane to San Marcos, where Malory goes over the arms-dealing plan. Archer has had eight drinks (but claims he’s not drunk) and then everyone argues over who would be who in The Breakfast Club. It’s an opening that is very uniquely Archer.
Things quickly get more complex when they meet Gustavo Calderon, the president/dictator of San Marcos who is soon revealed to be a huge fan of Cherlene’s “outlaw country” act — so much so that he buys $10 million worth of her records to distribute to the poor to improve their lives, despite them not owning record players.
Everyone takes residence in the palace, which Krieger, Pam and Cherlene somehow also assume is a hotel. Lana and Sterling then have an important conversation, where he says he’s cleaning up his act by cutting down on his drinking and stopping with anonymous sex. While Lana laughs at the idea, she later revisits Sterling’s assertions, meaning she’s seriously thinking about what kind of role Sterling would have in her baby’s life.
The “anonymous sex” part quickly comes back to haunt Sterling when he sleeps with who he thinks is a maid, but is actually Calderon’s wife. This will eventually lead to an intense standoff near the end of the second episode when Calderon learns the truth — but not before he decides to divorce his wife and marry Cherlene (who rejects but then quickly accepts the idea).
The arms deal doesn’t go so well either, which begins with Calderon mishearing Malory’s “thanks” as an offer to sell him tanks. But when rebel forces attack, the situation grows more dire. And while it looks like the arms would do Calderon more good, he announces that his team of scientists are working on a secret weapon.
By the way — his scientists appear to be clones of Krieger. Throw in Cyril busting into the palace with a tank and you’ve got a typically outrageous episode.
Though this is officially a two-parter, the serialized nature of this season basically means next week’s episode will be part three, and apparently features Cyril becoming the president of San Marcos. Something says that that won’t last long.
